J. MILLARD TAWES, Governor                         175

together with the payment to the county for this current year, equals
the total amount of payment set for the board, care and treatment
of the particular patient for that current year. When the aforegoing
allocations are made, and to the extent that additional funds remain,
the collection unit next shall credit the account of the county for
the total of its payment for that patient for the next preceding year,
and then shall allocate to the credit of General Funds of the State an
amount which, together with the payment to the county for that next
preceding year, equals the total amount set for the board, care and
treatment of that patient for that next preceding year. Thereafter,
and so long as additional funds remain, the department shall similarly
credit first the account of the county and then the account of the State
for the amount set for the board, care and treatment of the patient
for the second preceding year, and then for the third preceding year,
and continuing in this manner until the monies received in the cur-
rent year for or on behalf of that patient are entirely exhausted.

(e-2) It shall be the duty of the collection unit to furnish to the
county commissioners or county council of each county, or the depart-
ment of public welfare in Baltimore City, having patients in the
State chronic disease hospitals, a quarterly statement giving the
number of patients and the name of each patient coming from and
charged to such county, and the cost of maintenance due from each
county for such patient or patients. It shall be the duty of the county
treasurer to pay to the collection unit the amount due and owing from
his county quarterly on the first day of January, April, July and
October of each year. All money collected by the collection unit from
Baltimore City or the counties under this section shall be accounted
for and paid into the State treasury according to the procedures in
effect for such accounting; in the event of any dispute as to residence
the collection unit shall have the power to determine which one of
two or more counties or Baltimore City may be responsible for such
payment.

Article 59

5.

(A-l) THE DEPARTMENT IS AUTHORIZED TO SET THE
RATE OF PAYMENTS RETROACTIVELY TO BECOME EFFEC-
TIVE AS OF THE DATE OF ADMISSION TO THE HOSPITAL
OR AS OF THE DATE OF BEGINNING THE INVESTIGATION
OF THE FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE PATIENT AND OF
OTHER PERSONS LEGALLY CHARGEABLE FOR HIS MAINTE-
NANCE AND SUPPORT, WHICHEVER IS THE LATER DATE;
BUT THE EFFECTIVE DATE MAY NOT BE SET MORE THAN
SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO THE DATE OF THE ORDER UNLESS
THERE HAS BEEN A FAILURE ON THE PART OF THE PA-
TIENT, GUARDIAN OR COMMITTEE OR OTHER PERSONS
LEGALLY CHARGEABLE WITH HIS MAINTENANCE AND
SUPPORT, TO FILE THE FINANCIAL REPORTS OR STATE-
MENTS REQUIRED BY THE DEPARTMENT.

44.

(a) For each patient in any State institution under the jurisdiction
of the Department of Mental Hygiene from Baltimore City or from
any one of the counties of the State, the said city or county, as the